dices, or defigns, unfold the myfteries of prediction, how the fulfilment of the Divine will, and in reality advance the interefts of Revelation, The following Work is intended to fet thefe truths in a ftriking point of view; IT DISPLAYS THE HARMONY OF PROPHECY-THE ONE GREAT SCHEME THAT PERVADES ALL ITS PARTS AND THE CONCURRENCE OF ALL HUMAN EVENTS TO ACCOMPLISH ITS STUPENDOUS PLAN. Fully aware that this work falls extremely fhort of that excellence which the fubject demands, I lament that fuch a fketch of Prophetical and Hiftorical harmony as the times feem urgently to require, delineating prefent as well as paft occurrences with a faithful and an able pencil, and marking them with the colours of ftrong and vivid defcription, has not hitherto been offered to the public. I am perfuaded, that fuch a work would most effectually anfwer the ends which thefe Volumes are moft feriously intended to promote-namely, to establish the doubtful, to recal the wandering, to awaken the thoughtless, to inftruct the unlearned and more particularly to produce in the minds of the rifing generation fo ftrong a conviction of the fuperintendence of the Almighty over the affairs of the world-of the Divine origin of the Gofpel and the momentous concerns of another life, that they may view the FOLLY and the WICKEDNESS of the NEW PHILOSOPHY in their proper light, and ever ftand up as THE FIRM SUPPORTERS OF THE SACRED CAUSE OF CHRISTIANITY. Before I conclude this Preface, I muft make an acknowledgment, which is no lefs due to juftice, than fatisfactory to my own feelings of gratitude. I have received fo much affistance in the profecution of this Work, as greatly to invalidate my claims to being reputed its Author. The plan originated with an ardent Friend to the caufe of Religion, who was led, by a very extensive knowledge of Hiftory and Scripture, to confider the paffing train of events with peculiar attention; and forcibly ftruck by their agreement with the Divine word, was anxious to reprefent this enlightening and confolatory truth to the public. From this Perfon, whofe name I am not at liberty to mention, and whofe 8 whofe anxiety for the fuccefs of this Publication is perfectly difinterested, I have not only received many judicious corrections of what I had written, but fuch valuable communications as are deservedly fubftituted for many of the materials which I had prepared for the prefs. I had alfo the advantage of fubmitting my papers to the perufal of the learned and excellent Prelate, to whom I am allowed the honour of infcribing this Work; to whofe enlightened and comprehenfive views of the fubject of Prophecy itself, I am happy to acknowledge my obligations; and to whom the public are indebted for the first intimation of the PRINCIPLE that alone can explain the extraordinary events which excite universal attention*. I congratulate my Readers on my having obtained fuch important affiftance, as it has ftamped that value upon the Volumes now offered to their notice, which I am confident could not have been derived from my own unaided labours. a See the Bishop of Lincoln's excellent Difcourfe on the Day of Public Thanksgiving, 1797. ADVERTISEMENT LIBRARY UNIVERSITY CALIFORNI OF THE FIRST EDITION. THIS Work has been delayed and increased much beyond, the original defign, stated in the Introductory Chapter to the firft Volume. This delay and this increase are to be attributed to my anxiety to obtain from the fame Pen, to which I am indebted for fo much affiftance in the firft Volume, A DEVELOPEMENT OF THE PROPHETICAL SCHEME CONCERNING ANTICHRIST; being well convinced that no one could prefent this new and comprehenfive fyftem to the public in fo clear a light, as the person with 1 This Work was firft published in three Volumes, 12mo. The fecond volume commenced with the Introductory Chapter to the fecond Clafs of Prophecies; and the third Volume contained the third and fourth Chapters of the fame Clafs. whom 1 |